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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Warmwater Aquaculture Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #319903
Title: Early innate immune response of immune proteins in juvenile channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus

Author
item RAGHU, DEEPTHI - University Of Memphis
item OURTH, DONALD - University Of Memphis
item Peterson, Brian

Submitted to: Journal of the World Aquaculture Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/21/2015
Publication Date: 11/1/2015
Citation: Raghu, D., Ourth, D.D., Peterson, B.C. 2015. Early innate immune response of immune proteins in juvenile channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society. P. 107-112.

Interpretive Summary: Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) are raised for aquaculture in the Southeast U.S. and are susceptible to bacterial and viral infections acquired from their pond environment. Innate immune proteins mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and lysozyme were studied during two consecutive years in channel catfish 2, 4, 6, 9 and 12 months old. Both groups were maintained in indoor tanks in a light/dark photoperiod at a mean temperature of 27°C. A dot-blot enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine levels of MBL and a turbidometry lysozyme assay was used to quantify lysozyme for two consecutive years. An increase in mean MBL was seen in 4 month catfish (26.9 µg/ml) when compared with all other age groups. A decrease in mean MBL was seen in 6 and 9 month catfish when compared with all other age groups. Both the 2 month (21 µg/ml) and 12 month (19.9 µg/ml) catfish were very similar in mean MBL concentrations. The greatest increase in mean lysozyme was seen at 4 months (15 µg/ml). Juvenile channel catfish could produce lysozyme at 2 months, equivalent to the lysozyme concentrations found in 9 and 12 month catfish. The greatest increases for MBL and lysozyme were seen in 4 month catfish. Juvenile channel catfish are immunocompetent in producing MBL and lysozyme at 2 months of age. This study provided a foundation for understanding these innate immune proteins in the early innate immune response of juvenile channel catfish.

Technical Abstract: Channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) are raised for aquaculture in the Southeast U.S. and are susceptible to bacterial and viral infections acquired from their pond environment. Innate immune proteins mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and lysozyme were studied during two consecutive years in channel catfish 2, 4, 6, 9 and 12 months old. Both groups were maintained in indoor tanks in a light/dark photoperiod at a mean temperature of 27°C. A dot-blot enzyme linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine levels of MBL and a turbidometry lysozyme assay was used to quantify lysozyme for two consecutive years. An increase in mean MBL was seen in 4 month catfish (26.9 ± 0.8 µg/ml) when compared with all other age groups. A decrease in mean MBL was seen in 6 and 9 month catfish when compared with all other age groups. Both the 2 month (21 ± 1.4 µg/ml) and 12 month (19.9 ± 0.4 µg/ml) catfish were very similar in mean MBL concentrations. The greatest increase in mean lysozyme was seen at 4 months (15 ± 5.0 µg/ml). Juvenile channel catfish could produce lysozyme at 2 months, equivalent to the lysozyme concentrations found in 9 and 12 month catfish. The greatest increases for MBL and lysozyme were seen in 4 month catfish. Juvenile channel catfish are immunocompetent in producing MBL and lysozyme at 2 months of age. Mean total protein of 26.7 mg/ml and mean albumin/globulin ratio of 0.7 were found for the two groups of channel catfish sera. This study provided a foundation for understanding these innate immune proteins in the early innate immune response of juvenile channel catfish.